By Lauren Otis, Staff Writer
Just when you thought it was safe to drive into Princeton again.
Only two months after the congestion and frustration brought about by the four-month closure of Rosedale Road for construction of a new bridge across the Stony Brook ended in early November, motorists seeking ingress and egress into downtown Princeton soon will have to grapple with another lengthy closure of a major gateway artery to the borough.
Starting Feb. 1, Mercer Street, a pitched and patched concrete obstacle course, will be reconstructed completely between Springdale Road and Nassau Street and resurfaced between Springdale Road and Lovers Lane in a $1.9 million project undertaken by South River-based Green Construction for the borough.
Princeton Pike, a major entry road to Princeton from the west — traffic funnels onto it from routes 1 and 95 — becomes Mercer Street as it enters Princeton.
The extensive work necessary to rebuild the road will require it and several side streets to be closed completely to through traffic for the duration of the project, which is estimated at six months, according to Borough Engineer Chris Budzinski.
”I admit that traffic will be difficult,” Mr. Budzinski said, with delays at peak traffic hours similar to those brought about by the Rosedale Road closing, “if not worse.”
Princeton Borough Lt. Sharon Papp said both the borough and Princeton Township police are coordinating traffic control.
At peak hours, a township traffic control officer will be stationed at the intersection of Lovers Lane and Stockton Street (Route 206), and a borough officer will be stationed at the traffic light at the Stockton Street and Elm Road intersection, Lt. Papp said.
The traffic officers will be stationed from 7 to 11 a.m. and 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. “Monday through Friday for the first two weeks, and then we are going to have to re-evaluate everything,” she said.
”What we are hoping for is that people will be planning on alternative routes,” Lt. Papp said.
”This problem is the Rosedale Road situation and even more so,” said Princeton Borough Council President Andrew Koontz.
Mr. Koontz said the road was long overdue for rebuilding. Traffic clogs were inevitable, but once completed “the quality of travel into Princeton Borough will improve dramatically,” he said.
”We have been receiving public complaints about the condition of that road for many, many years,” Mr. Koontz said. “It’s obviously a vital artery into town, and it has needed work for a considerable period of time.”
Because financing terms and the economic climate affecting the construction business were seen as beneficial, the decision was made to bite the bullet and commence the project, he said. Mr. Koontz previously has said the borough will be saving $700,000 off its original estimate for the project.
Mr. Budzinski said the project involves replacement of the sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems beneath the road in addition to the rebuilding of the driving surface. The 8- to 10-inch-thick concrete surface, which extends from Springdale Road to Nassau Street, must be removed completely although the road between Springdale and Lovers Lane requires more of a traditional “mill and overlay,” he said. Curbs will be replaced along the length of the street, and sidewalks also replaced selectively, he added.
Although the borough originally had sought to conduct the project so the road could be reopened when construction had stopped for the day and other options to ease the traffic pain, this turned out not to be feasible, Mr. Budzinski said, because of the open road bed, equipment that would be present and the liability issues presented.
Taking out the large volume of poured concrete road surface is a big part of why the reconstruction is so difficult, Mr. Budzinski said. To improve the sustainability of the project and reduce costs, the contractor will crush the old concrete surface for reuse as a road base and pipe base under the new road surface, he said.
”I think we’ve done the best we can,” Mr. Koontz said.
All parties want the work done well and as rapidly as possible, he said, but given the weather and opening up a road bed that hasn’t been tended to since the 1950s, there is the potential for unforeseen problems and delays.
”We are keeping our fingers crossed that the project will stay on schedule,” he said.
Questions about the Mercer Street closure and reconstruction should be directed to the Princeton engineering office at 609-497-7634.
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